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Japanese invasion of China
In 1931, Japan invaded the Chinese region of Manchuria in search of fresh resources to feed its developing country. This is when assaults against Chinese people became increasingly widespread. Many countries, including the United States, were not happy with their actions but remained silent out of fear of retribution or confrontation. As we all know, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 drew us into World War II.
source:https://www.trumanlibrary.gov -
German Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg, which translates as "lightning battle," was a military strategy utilized by Germany at the start of World War II to avoid lengthy wars. To summarize, it was to attack, penetrate, and encircle their adversaries. Between September 1940 and May 1941, this included aerial bombing strikes on British towns and cities. It was stopped because it was ineffective against well-planned and strategized defences.
https://www.iwm.org & https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org -
Fall of Paris
The Battle of France, also known as the Western Campaign, was a Second World War German invasion of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. As the conquest comes to a conclusion, Marshal Henri Petain takes over as Prime Minister and proclaims his intention to sign an armistice with the Nazis. However, Hiters' objective was to permanently abolish it since they considered France as a security threat to Germany.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk -
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was a botched attempt to force the Soviet Union to surrender. This was attempted by Nazi Germany and several of its Axis allies invading the Soviet Union. Hitler even considered the Soviet Union to be his "natural adversary." The fundamental reason for "Operation Barbarossa" faliure was Hitler's lack of strategic preparation; it is believed that if he had let his soldiers to seize Moscow first, they would have had a better chance of victory.
https://www.realclearhistory.com -
Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Kermit Tyler received a call about planes approaching Pearl Harbor and advised the radar tech not to be concerned. He had no idea that the Japanese were about to launch a massive attack on the United States, which would become known as the Pearl Harbour attack. Which killed 2,403 US service members, including 68 civilians, and destroyed or damaged 19 US Navy ships, including 8 battleships. This was Japan's aim to keep America out of their planned attacks in Southeast Asia. -
Wannsee Conference
The Wannsee Conference was a gathering of Nazi officials to plan the "Final Solution" to the "Jewish Question." It was a watershed moment in Jewish history. The final solution, as we know it today, entailed collecting up all Jews and subjecting them to hard labor or extermination. They also stated that the remaining Jews would be handled appropriately, but as we all know, the Nazis treated them the same in life and death, as less than nothing.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Wannsee-Conference -
Warsaw Ghetto uprising
This is considered the greatest significant Jewish rebellion in German-occupied Europe. This rebellion resulted in about 150,000 civilian deaths and 20,000 Home Army wounded. Their insurrection eventually failed owing to a lack of international support. They ran out of resources after 63 days and had to surrender to the Nazis. Many of the residents were deported, and the city was demolished. -
Operation Gomorrah
In July 1943, the Allies unleashed a ferocious attack on Germany's second largest city. It was intended to demoralize the Germans and bring the war to a conclusion. It completed its mission, killing around 40,000 people and destroying more than 60% of the city's housing stock. As a result, their success did, in fact, undermine Germany's morale. On the other hand, did not stop the war.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/search -
Allied invasion of Italy
During World War II, the Allies invaded Italy from September 3 to September 16, 1943. The World War II Allies invaded Italy in 1943 and France in 1944 to push back the German Wehrmacht, which controlled both countries. Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery led the invasion. The Allied casualties were around 330,000, whereas the German casualties (excluding those participating in the final capitulation) were well over 330,000. -
D-Day
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops arrived on the Normandy shore. It was the commencement of the liberation of Europe and defeat of Germany. The victory of the Allies was the most significant turning point in WWII. More than 2,000 Americans were killed. However, by the end of the day, roughly 156,000 Allied troops had successfully assaulted the beaches of Normandy. D-Day is also remembered as the biggest invasion force in human history. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Germany's final major offensive battle on the Western Front during WWII. The combat lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 28, 1945, near the end of the European war. It was known for being a brutal war, with "record-breaking cold temperatures brutalizing American forces." More than 15,000 'cold ailments' were reported that winter, including trench foot, pneumonia, and frostbite." -
Liberation of concentration camps
During the Vistula-Oder Offensive on January 27, 1945, the Red Army freed the Auschwitz concentration camp in nazi-occupied Poland. When these soldiers saw the conditions in which these individuals were living, they were shocked and dismayed by the proof of Nazi atrocities. They attempted to console the thousands of inmates by providing food, water, and medical care which they most likely had received close to none, or nothing in their time there. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
During World War II, the United States Marine Corps and Navy landed on and seized the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army. The corps' assault units—Marines and organic Navy personnel—suffered 24,053 casualties, the largest single-action loss in Marine Corps history. Both sides suffered a devastating death toll, including the Japanese; just about 200 of the estimated 20,000 Japanese forces on the island survived the combat. -
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day, was the day on which Germany unconditionally relinquished its military forces to the Allies, including the United States. As a result, celebrations erupted around the world to commemorate the conclusion of World War II in Europe. Every year on May the eighth, this day is commemorated.
https://www.standard.co.uk
https://www.defense.gov -
Dropping of the atomic bombs
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber, dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, which was named Little Boy. On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 a.m., the Bockscar, another B-29 bomber, dropped the Fat Man bomb on Nagasaki. They were dropped on these Japanese cities in order to further drive Japan to surrender and to demonstrate America's power to the Soviet Union.
https://www.britannica.com/event/atomic-bombings-of-Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki -
VJ Day
VJ Day, like VE Day, commemorates the end of WWII. Which, as you may recall, was one of the most devastating and lethal battles in human history. When President Harry S. Truman announced on August 14, 1945, that Japan had surrendered unconditionally, people all over the world rejoiced. Victory in the Pacific Day and V-P Day are other names for this day. Whatever you decide to call it, it's a big celebration of peace.